If you’re getting SQL Server error 4199 that reads “Argument value 0 is invalid for argument 3 of generate_series function“, it’s probably because you’re passing zero as the third argument to the GENERATE_SERIES() function.
The GENERATE_SERIES() function accepts an optional third argument, but this argument can’t be zero.
To fix this error, either pass a non-zero expression as the third argument, or omit the argument altogether (in order to use the default step of 1).
Continue readingSQL Server’s GENERATE_SERIES() function returns a series of numbers within a given interval. But just because it returns numbers, doesn’t mean we can’t leverage its functionality in order to generate a series of time values.
If you need to create a series of time values with evenly spaced intervals between a start and end point, maybe the following technique can help.
Continue readingFrom SQL Server 2022 we can use the JSON_PATH_EXISTS() function to test whether a specified SQL/JSON path exists in the input JSON string.
It’s similar to the JSON_CONTAINS_PATH() function that’s available in MySQL and MariaDB.
If you’re getting SQL Server error 10751 that reads “The ORDER BY in WITHIN GROUP clause of ‘APPROX_PERCENTILE_CONT’ function must have exactly one expression” it’s probably because you’re using too many ORDER BY expressions with the APPROX_PERCENTILE_CONT() function.
The APPROX_PERCENTILE_CONT() function requires the WITHIN GROUP clause, and that clause requires an ORDER BY sub-clause. However, that ORDER BY sub-clause requires exactly one expression – no more, no less. So, you can’t pass multiple expressions, and you can’t pass zero expressions. It must be exactly one expression.
To fix this issue, be sure to have just one ORDER BY expression in the WITHIN GROUP clause when using the APPROX_PERCENTILE_CONT() function.
In SQL Server, we can use the JSON_ARRAY() function to construct JSON array text from zero or more expressions.
The resulting array contains the values we provide as arguments. Providing zero expressions results in an empty array.
Continue readingIn SQL Server, we can use the JSON_OBJECT() function to construct JSON object text from zero or more expressions.
The resulting object contains the key/value pairs that we provide as arguments. Providing zero expressions results in an empty object.
Continue readingIf you’re using the GENERATE_SERIES() function to create a series of numbers, but you’re finding that only the first value in the series is returned, it could be something very obvious.
The obvious reason this could happen is that your step value is too big. In particular, if the step is so big that it covers the whole series, then it stands to reason that there will only be one value in the series.
If this is an issue for you, you might want to check that you’re using an appropriate step value. Using a smaller step value can help to create a series with more values.
Continue readingIf you’re getting error 313 with a message that reads “An insufficient number of arguments were supplied for the procedure or function GENERATE_SERIES” in SQL Server, it’s because you’re not passing enough arguments to the GENERATE_SERIES() function.
The GENERATE_SERIES() function/relational operator accepts a minimum of two arguments, and a maximum of three (at least, this is the case at the time of writing). Passing less than two arguments will result in the above error.
To fix this error, be sure to provide at least two arguments when using the GENERATE_SERIES() function.
If you’re getting SQL Server error msg 9810 that tells you that the datepart “is not supported by date function datetrunc for data type“, it’s probably because you’re using an invalid datepart argument when using the DATETRUNC() function.
For example, this error can occur when using a time date part on a date value (i.e. one that doesn’t have a time component). Conversely, it can also occur when using a date date part on a time value (i.e. one that doesn’t have a date component).
Continue readingSQL Server 2022 introduced the GENERATE_SERIES() function that allows us to create a series of values that increment between a given start and end point.
We can create a decrementing series simply by having a greater start point than the end point, while omitting the third argument.
We can also create a decrementing series by using a negative value for the third argument. This obviously requires that the start point is higher than the stop point.
Continue reading